How to delete a child payment card

Deleting a card is a permanent action — once removed, the card can no longer be used for purchases, and any linked allowance rules tied to that card will need to be reassigned. If your child is simply misplacing their card or you want to temporarily restrict spending, consider freezing the card instead. But when the card genuinely needs to go — a child has outgrown the account, you’re switching cards, or there’s a security concern — this guide walks you through the full removal process.

Before you delete

A few things worth confirming first:

  • Outstanding transactions: Any pending transactions (common with M-Pesa-linked settlements or delayed merchant authorisations) will still process even after deletion. Check the card’s recent activity to avoid surprises.
  • Recurring payments: If the card is tied to a subscription — say, a school fees instalment or a recurring data bundle in Nairobi — cancel or update that subscription before deleting the card to avoid failed charges.
  • Linked allowances: Allowances set to disburse to a specific card will fail silently after deletion. Reassign them to the child’s wallet or a new card first.

You can review the card’s current status and linked transactions by navigating to How to view a child payment card before proceeding.

Steps to delete the card

  1. Open the KiddyCash app and navigate to your family dashboard. Tap the child whose card you want to remove.

  2. Go to the child’s Payment Card section. You can access the card directly at: https://kiddy.cash/family/kiddy/account/payment-card/:payment_card_id Replace :payment_card_id with the actual card ID shown in the URL when you open the card detail screen.

  3. Tap the card you want to delete. If the child has more than one card issued — for example, a physical card and a virtual card — make sure you’ve selected the correct one.

  4. Open card settings. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the card detail screen.

  5. Select “Delete card”. You’ll see a confirmation prompt that lists any active allowances or subscriptions linked to the card. Review this list carefully.

  6. Confirm deletion. Enter your KiddyCash PIN or authenticate with biometrics to confirm. The card is immediately deactivated — transactions attempted after this point will be declined.

  7. Check for orphaned allowances. After deletion, go back to the child’s wallet and confirm all allowances are routing correctly. Any allowance previously targeting the deleted card will show a warning banner.

What happens after deletion

  • The card disappears from the child’s account and can no longer be used, even if the physical card is still intact.
  • Historical transactions remain visible in your family’s transaction history for audit and reporting purposes — useful if you’re tracking KES spending across the month.
  • The card cannot be restored. If you need to reissue, follow the steps in How to issue a payment card for a child.

A note on KYC and new cards

If you’re deleting a card as part of onboarding a new child profile or restructuring your family setup, the re-issuance process may prompt a KYC step for the child depending on their age and account tier. For context on recent changes to how onboarding works in KiddyCash, see What’s new in onboarding in KiddyCash and A closer look at onboarding in KiddyCash.